Holidaymakers thinking of booking a sunshine trip to Turkey are being warned to take care following a number of incidents including tragic deaths related to counterfeit alcohol.
The UK Foreign Office has issued an update, including safety advice, for those planning to travel to the country in the wake of some people dying and others becoming seriously ill from drinking illegally-produced local spirits. The new advice is to drink alcohol only from licensed liquor stores and bars and to check labels and bottle seals to ensure they are intact, as Walesonline reports.
It says the update comes after the circulation of reports claiming more than 100 have died after drinking bootleg alcohol in Turkey in recent weeks. The Foreign Office website states: “In Turkey, including Ankara and Istanbul, people have died or suffered serious illness after drinking illegally produced local spirits and counterfeit bottles of branded alcohol”. And it goes on to list the following tips to protect yourself:
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Buy alcoholic beverages only from licensed liquor stores
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Buy drinks only at licensed bars and hotels
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Avoid home-made alcoholic drinks
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Check bottle seals are intact
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Check labels for poor print quality or incorrect spelling
The Foreign Office also recently updated its travel advice for those intending to travelto Turkey during the holy month of Ramadan, which is set to begin either on February 28 or March 1 and to last for 29 or 30 days. The advice warns that tourists may cause offence during the religious festival if they do any of the following:
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Eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in the daytime, including in your car
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Play loud music or dance
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Swear in public
Tourists are also advised that the opening hours of shops and restaurants may change during this time and to be aware that restaurants providing food or drink during fasting hours may choose to separate them from Islamic guests, for example by screen. The advice added that people should “follow local dress codes”, saying “clothing that does not meet local dress codes may cause more offence at this time”.
Keep an eye out for more information about travel and the situation in Turkey by visiting the Foreign Office website here.
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/travel-tourism/foreign-office-travel-warning-update-30964822
